The progression of the Zeta Aerospace Initiative

[aeroz]

So, I originally started this in the "Welcome Aboard" area, but it was brought to my attention that this forum is more suited to what the goal was. In this blog/forum/brainstorm area, I hope to show the development, from first flight to space stations, of a complete space program. It begins in a time when Kerbalkind is first developing their will to shoot for the stars and "slip the surly bonds" of their world. This means that they, the Kerbinauts and the KSC engineers, will need to start from scratch.

Any thoughts and comments are welcome.

[aeroz]

Having just discovered that they too can fly, Jebediah and Bill make an effort to conquer the skies as well. After several near deaths in their attempts at landing, a successful biplane design was created. Reaching a top speed of about 80 m/s and a service altitude of 4500 meters, the Steerman II was born.

Edited September 27, 2013 by aeroz

[aeroz]

Under cover of darkness, the Kerbins have decided to launch their first attempt of a liquid fueled rocket. "We mastered solid rockets days ago," Jeb said in a press release. "We feel confident that we'll experience this same success with our latest rocket design." He also added, " Plus, this one will be controlled. What could possibly go wrong?"

Jeb and his crew set up position for the launch about 170 meters from the pad, having no concept for the phrase 'safe distance'. Overall the launch was successful, impacting over water near the desired point.

[aeroz]

With the discovery of the jet engine, or "Fire-shooter-thingy" as Bill calls it, the boys designed a long-range cargo plane.

"This thing handles like a dream," Bob Kerman was heard saying. They were even able to land it successfully on the first try. Other feats included accurately dropping their cargo and not losing any parts. All-in-all the program for Aeronautics is proceeding nicely. Better than expected in most cases.

[aeroz]

After completing multiple terrestrial flights, delivering a payload, making safe landings, and even performing some aerobatics safely, the KSC crew took a serious look at how to put something into an orbit. They'd been able to successfully launch rockets before, and make them reenter to impact their correct target areas. But actually achieving orbit? The didn't know how to. So they took their previously designed Status I rocket and put some boosters on it. Thus the Olympus II was born.

Bill, the main designer on this project asks, "How could this not work?"

They shoot for an early morning launch of their Stayputnik system, a metal-coated ball that they found in a dumpster with attached antennae. Though it's held together with tape, Samski - the lead spacecraft developer - thinks it should hold up just fine. The goal is a low-altitude, low-inclination, nearly circular orbit.

It appears that their programming paid off, and the spacecraft even functions.

[aeroz]

Realizing that they needed to be able to communicate with one another if they ever took a long-range trip beyond the horizon, the KSC team decided they should develop some method for communications. Seeing the success of their recent Stayputnik system, the decided to modify its launch vehicle to lift more and fly further. The newly designed COMSTAR satellite features an internal stability and control system, communication relay parabolic antenna, and several communication feed antennae.

The COMSTAR lead, Anmy, has indicated that the architecture should enable 65 to 85 percent coverage of Kerbin for communication coverage at any given time. When questioned about the discrepancy he declined to comment.

COMSTAR I achieving on-orbit stability

The constellation will consist of 5 planes inclined at 65 degrees and a polar plane for high latitude coverage.

The launch team has projected that their next mission should be to map their planet. While it would be possible to do with ships and aircraft, this will likely involve another multi-satellite effort possibly named TopoSat,a name recently dropped by Hancas, the self-proclaimed Mission Director of Kerbin Studies.

[aeroz]

As Andun and Macke took to the skies for a nice exploration trip out to the islands off the coast, they were discussing if attempts had been made to leave their little planet before. What technologies had existed? Was it possible for Kerbalkind to fly among the stars? What about to those far off bodies in the heavens, ever revolving about their local star? They'd noticed before departing that there appeared to be some kind of structure on the horizon, jutting upward like a tower, and thought perhaps that it was an old ruin of a time long past.

When they got closer, however, they found that it was a forgotten airstrip whose buildings hadn't been used for quite some time. Andun decided to be the adventurous one and explore, while Macke stayed in touch with him via radio and to their own tower, just in case anything went wrong. It turns out, that there had been previous attempts at exploration! Andun had discovered old parts tucked away in a corner of a hangar.

As the night began to fall, they realized that their home may have more secrets waiting for them than they realized. All the more reason for them to hurry their communications relay and mapping systems along.

[aeroz]

"Stayputnik has completed its assignment." Jebediah said as the satellite's destruct command was sent, "We know now that it is possible to safely orbit this world, and from Andun and Macke's discovery that it has been done before. It is now our goal to put a Kerbal in space and then beyond."

With their COMSTAR constellation completed and stable communications in place, the KSC team can begin their push for a mapping constellation. Despite setbacks due to the necessary addition of one low inclination COMSTAR satellite enabling complete coverage of Kerbin, the project was completed on time.

Hancas has declared that this new group of 4 satellites will share a similar bus design to COMSTAR, with some small modifications. "Ideally," he stated this morning, "the satellite's payload will be the only real change we will have to make since the development cost for this payload were quite... *ahem* ... extensive," looking over at Bill who was originally assigned to the development team, but later dismissed for "design specification reasons."

The satellites will be evenly spaced around the equatorial plane having slightly retrograde motion, ensuring the complete mapping of this little blue planet. They will also be placed at a higher altitude than any previously injected satellite. Each will carry a high-power radar mapping dish, sufficient internal power, and several solar arrays. The launch vehicle was also slightly modified to provide enough fuel to get to their designed 350km orbit altitude and de-orbit into a remote area of presumably water, though nothing further was said in the KSC release.

ISA MapSat 4 (Dev build): http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/entry.php/414-0-20-Dev-build-of-Mapsat-4-available-and-blog-update

[aeroz]

Never having been in a position to feel weightlessness, the KSC Engineers devised a way to allow the Kerbinauts to get some minimal training in a zero-G environment. It involved unscrewing the main cargo-bay of their Skyway-I cargo plane and taping it back together - upside down. While the idea worked in theory, in practice, things tended not to end well.

Eventually it was suggested that they simply design an aircraft with a vertically facing cargo bay, enabling Kerbals to safely enter from above using a ladder. This was generally decided to be a good idea. The thought was to take the plane up high then dive toward the ground matching gravity's acceleration. Chairs were installed for ease of use during the "pull-up" phases of flight.

It took some getting used to, but the Kerbinauts were well on their way to zero-g acclimation, though their ship required routine cleaning. It was affectionately given the name "Ker-mess Comet" for obvious reasons.

[aeroz]

"After hours and hours of flight training it's come to this: we are finally ready to send a Kerbinaut into space," Jeb told the press yesterday, "Tomrie will be our first attempt at spaceflight." Tomrie was absentmindedly staring off into the sunlight with his mouth gaping open, a blank expression on his face. "While he's never been the bravest of us, we all know if he can do it, well so can that rock over there."

They'd designed the rocket, the Kaspero I, to support a single Kerbal going into orbit. The craft features 3 smaller main engines, a second stage to finish the boost to orbit, followed by a crew module. Each stage was to be jettisoned and de-orbited as it went using 3 'Sepratron' rockets. These rockets would also be used to slow the crew module to de-orbit.

"Our first mission," Bob declared, "is to determine if we can even survive. So we're going to send Tomrie up for a bit, then reenter him. Hopefully, everything will work out fine. We've never reentered like this before, so here's hoping for a successful mission. Tomrie, you're going to need to keep the Kaspero around *cough* degrees during reentry... we think. Good luck to you." Tomrie kept trying to eat the grass.

With Tormie safely back home, the true flight testing could commence. There would be several key checkpoints for the program:

1. Achieve a stable orbit and reenter

2. Make several orbits and reenter

3. Conduct minor orbital attitude changes to determine stable and non-stable configurations.

For these missions, the KSC engineers determined they would need more courageous and comprehensible pilots. Each of these missions would be flown by hand and might require quick thinking to get out of a bind.

[aeroz]

Despite their willingness to press on and go for a full orbit, the KSC health team decided that it would be better to test another Kerbinaut along a suborbital flight. Jening Kerman willingly stepped up for the job. "This is why I joined this team," he said, "to help make history for all Kerbals."

His flight would go higher than originally planned for the orbits, giving him nearly the same time in space as going to a full orbit would. The doctors were most pleased to hear this, since they really would like to continue testing of the Kerbinauts. "Those kermology nuts," Hancas complained, "always want the all the time in the world to discover every little thing. We need to be out there! That's where the excitement is."

The launch went off without even the tiniest of snags. All stages separated as planned; the craft handled just as it should. Though reentry wasn't spot on, "it's nice to know we can crash land if we need to. That's probably my greatest discovery on this voyage," Jenning supplied with a laugh, "though I imagine water is much nicer."

Jenning is scheduled for another flight, next time for a full orbit. He is also the first of his kind to see the night sky from space, without any atmosphere in the way. "It was incredible," he said, awestruck, "I can't wait to gaze out there again."

[Sesni]

Cool!

(Sentence to please the forum gods.)

[aeroz]

The Kerbinauts assembled to hear the mission outline. "Today, we're going to send Anmy in the first ever manned full orbit," Jeb said. "He's probably the smartest of all of you, so if something goes wrong, hopefully he'll be able to fix it. We don't want to lose this ship if we can help it. It should have more than enough fuel to get him to 100km and circularize... assuming our engineers did the math right."

"We've modified the craft a little bit. After our first two tests, we've determined that those stabilizers at the bottom are unnecessary. Additionally, you won't be needing those solar panels. We have more than enough power on board to get you through a few hours of orbit, which is all you'll be doing, if even that. We've also added a modified life support system, so you'll actually need to monitor your O2 supply and CO2 buildup. We're trying to save as much weight as possible so you all will have enough fuel if something goes wrong during launch. We don't expect that to happen, but just in case."

With the mission briefing over, and the doctors' approval, Anmy entered his craft, and the hatches were sealed shut. Jeb, who had decided to take the mission director chair from Hancas for this flight, was nervous as the main engines fired and throttled up. The room was silent.

"Roll program start," came the mechanical voice from pod. A few seconds later, "Max Q!" Everything was going according to plan.

With the second stage jettisoned, Anmy was on his own. The only thrusters he had left were his retrorockets which would be used to deorbit him when the time came. The landing site they'd picked was the ocean to the east of KSC.

Reentry had been almost picture perfect, starting at 3 degrees on the dot. The KSC team saw the pod fly over toward it's landing zone.

The chute deployed at 6000 meters, with the speed just about 150 m/s. As the pod splashed down almost exactly on target, Jeb took what seemed to be the largest sigh of relief on record. Anmy had just completed his mission. They had done it; they'd successfully orbited their planet. The program had more milestones ahead, but they were well on their way.

[aeroz]

"With the advent of new technology, we will be completely re-engineering our entire satellite architecture," Jeb said earlier today. "This change, while extremely expensive, will further our goal of going to the Mun and beyond. All of our satellites have been deorbited and their hardware recycled. We will replace their functionality with newer, better satellites. Also due to an unfortunate solar wind, our mapping data was not relayed properly. This situation will also need to be remedied. New communications and mapping satellites will be designed and put into orbit using variations on our Kaspero system."

"Yes, I know all of you are wondering, 'What does this mean for the progress of our goal to land on the Mun?' It means that we will be working tirelessly here on the ground for the next few weeks in preparation for our next inhabited initiative. Currently, designs are in the works for a multi-kerbal module and launch vehicle. We will also begin our lander training. Safety is key, so from here on our, all missions will have the ability to safely abort. We can't afford to lose any of our finest and most courageous minds to a silly mishap."

"Now, if you please, I will return to my office and continue my work on our new architecture to maintain communications across Kerbin. That is all."

And with that, Jeb left the conference room.

He did tell us that the goals for this next stage included on orbit maneuvering, rendezvous, docking, and completing space walks. Also that a lot of on orbit testing was completed with the Kaspero Launch System, to include inclined orbiting, full life support systems, stellar observations, and orbital calculations.

[aeroz]

"Thanks to the tireless efforts of the entire KSC crew, we have successfully restored 'global' communications to Kerbin," Jeb said enthusiastically. "We've also gone a long way in our quest to go to Mun. This system will enable us to send probes to determine the environment's safety. As I said previously, that is our number one priority at this point."

"We produced the GeoStar system with the intention of putting up fewer satellites to complete the requirement of globabl communication continuity. While we're missing about 8% - only the extremes of the polar regions - we have plans to put two more satellites into orbit carrying multiple payloads: multiple communications relays and mapping equipment. These satellites will ensure coverage of the poles."

The GeoStar satellites, of which there are 4, all carry more than enough power, several antennae, 3 communications relays, and solar arrays to restore power.

Using their newest satellite launch system, they were able to insert their new satellites into geosynchronous orbits, phased to be separated by about 90 degrees. The process took several days in each case, during which time they were able to test out the relays and power subsystems.

Final orbital insertion and stability achievement are shown below.

[EEVV]

Wow awesome can't wait for more

[aeroz]

"It took quite a bit of doing," Jeb announced, "but we have devised a system to deliver multiple satellites into the same orbit. The ship, named for its first payload, is the PolStar III. It will be carrying our polar orbit constellation, PolStar 1-, 2-, and 3-A. We opted for 3 satellites instead of 2 because it was pointed out that while the two satellites orbited, they would both cross the equator at the same time on opposite sides of Kerbin, leaving the poles entirely uncovered. Our goal is constant coverage, so hopefully this will provide that. We think it will."

The satellites feature two shorter range dishes, as their purpose is to relay communication from the GeoStar constellation to the polar regions, and the reconfigured mapping system.

After a bit of on-orbit checking, a communication checkout was conducted. The result? Complete global coverage achieved.

"Testing and Kerbinaut orbiting will resume sometime in the near future. The Kerbinaut corp has grown significantly; we've added some new talent. They have been doing testing of our first lander concept. It will, of course, be modified for Munar landing purposes, but the control is essentially the same. Thank you all for our continued patience and support. We are still on target for our goal though." Jeb departed the conference with a confident and inspired look.

Edited September 8, 2013 by aeroz

[aeroz]

The press conference began with shushing and soft murmurs of anticipation. "I know you've been waiting for this for a long time. Probably too long. But some of us ... *Tomrie* ... can't keep their hands off of the equipment. Without further adieu, I give you the Aspire I."

"It is the largest rocket we've yet build. Its crew will be 3 Kerbinauts who will be sent into low, circular orbits. From there, it's main module will perform multiple orbital adjustments, changes, and just other cool stuff. With it, we will learn the intricacies of spaceflight and conduct extra-vehicular activities. The later crews will also perform docking experiments and orbital rendezvous in both equitorial and inclined orbits. These will give us the chance to practice phasing maneuvers and timed launches. Our first crew is set to launch tomorrow just before sunrise. Gusford, Lomon, and Scott will be the first Kerbinauts to use this capsule. They are our best and brightest."

However, for whatever reason, Bill, Bob, and Jeb decided at the last minute that they wanted to be the first crew to use the fancy new rocket. Despite their lack of training, the launch went very well, and they ended up in a nice circular orbit around 75.5 km.

The found in their first on-orbit maneuver that pointing perpendicular to their velocity toward north would increase their inclination, while south would decrease it. Burning up, would move their perigee around, down would do the opposite. Forward would push their apogee further out, while back would drop it toward the surface. A reaction control system was installed for the first time, enabling the boys to test out making fine maneuvers which would be useful while docking and rendezvousing.

They stayed up for a few orbits, burned retrograde, and made a picture perfect reentry right over KSC.

[aeroz]

The crew and engineers had been working on a lander to practice, well, landing. Several iterations in, a final design for the trainer was developed. It was equipped with 4 large struts, 4 small engines, a ladder, and 5 fuel tanks. Kerbinauts began practicing their maneuvers and trying to hover. Many of the first attempts ended in near disaster. It was decided, after the fifth incident, an escape system would be developed for this lander. They attached 12 Sepratron engines and 4 parachutes to the lander pod and hoped for the best if they needed to use it. They did. A lot. On the voyages to Mun, however, this system would do no good at all. Eventually, the guys got the hang of it and a flag put out for target practice, even then, though, they still needed to use the escape system from time to time.

At first they merely skimmed across the ground toward their goal. Eventually, they evolved into taking full ballistic trajectories to coast and then stop quickly near their destination, the approach they felt would most mimic the conditions of their Mun landing. The record is held by Matt and Scott, with an impressive 6 meter total range from the lander habitation compartment.

[aeroz]

"For the first time ever," Jeb stumbled over his words in excitement, " we have two separate crews in orbit."

"This brings us a long way toward our goal. They will need to exhibit the ability to rendezvous, however, for their mission to be considered successful. Their target distance is 100 meters or less, but we don't want them getting too close for fear that they may collide. Prior to their rendezvous attempt, both crews will conduct an EVA - another initiative first - to ensure the safety of their orbiters: the Kartosa and the Kortzack."

After insertion into a phasing orbit and completing a few revolutions, the spacecraft began to approach one another. The ship became visible at around 2 km. Then it became tricky. "We need to get closer," Donmund, pilot of the Kartosa, said. He burned toward their relative closing vector to accelerate the process. They were aiming for a closest approach of 100 meters. When they were about 200 meters away, Donmund flipped the ship slowly and fired the engine retrograde. Their progress slowed. They got close... they'd reached and exceeded their goal. They were fewer than 20 meters. Jonfrey was able to take a fantastic shot of the Kortzack from his window seat.

After a while, the ships parted ways, the Kartosa having completed her mission. The Kortzack would remain in orbit for a few more days, seeing how Kerbals fared for a longer period of time in space.

[aeroz]

Before any of their efforts could continue, the Kerbinauts would need to demonstrate their ability to perform inclined orbital rendezvous and docking. The engineers made a satellite for them to practice with. Their practice vessel has ports on both sides and a few batteries, an attitude control system, and some solar arrays. It was launched into a near-circular orbit at around 100 km, inclined at 35º. The Kerbinauts have become more than proficient at rendezvousing spacecraft but haven't docked yet. They've only launched and rendezvoused into an inclined orbit once, though the inclination was significant.

Jeb decided that this launch would take place along a southerly azimuth as opposed to the typical northerly. The ship would take off, roll around the face south, and begin its gravity turn almost immediately. They hoped to only have to phase minimally if it could be helped.

The launch went perfectly. Soon after liftoff they were in the correct orbit, matching their target almost exactly.

Following the same procedures as rendezvous, they got close. And then they got even closer. Being sure align the ports with one another, they conducted their first docking.

The completed the process on both sides multiple times, orbiting around the practice pod multiple times.

After a while, the crew called the mission a success, and headed back home, de-orbiting the practice satellite with them.

Edited September 12, 2013 by aeroz

[The Error]

Very cool! Next stop: larger payloads or a satellite network?

[aeroz]

Well, the next stop is going to be the moon. The satellite network around Kerbin is a good idea too, for what could come after. I want to make a shuttle and a space station as well, and a space telescope (i.e. put the Zues telescope in orbit: http://kerbalspaceprogram.com/0-18-4-zeus-space-telescope/ with the shuttle). From there, do a bit of playing around.

[aeroz]

It was the largest rocket they'd ever built and it was what they would use to go to the Mun. The very sight of it was intimidating.

The rocket was comprised of 3 stages for low orbit injection and Mun transfer, a lander, and the crew's command module. The Kerbinauts were nervous and excited. "That's what we're taking?" Scott said, astonished. "Yes," Jeb replied, "and Bob, Bill, and I will pilot the first one."

The KSC engineers had tested similar designs before, just without a crew or command module, finding that they had enough power to make the jump to Munar orbit.

They launched and entered orbit as they always had. The missions was going perfectly. After completing injection into a cicular, low-Kerbin orbit, they picked a time to initiate transfer. A convenient window was approaching, so they took it. After expending the transfer motor, the were on their way.

Disconnecting the Mun lander, they used their RCS thrusters to pull away slightly and reverse their pointing from prograde to retrograde (i.e. back toward the lander). They then released the connector which had held their lander in place through launch up until this point. Using their recently mastered docking skills, they docked back with the lander, returned to prograde, and said goodbye to Kerbin for the time being.

[aeroz]

They got into orbit around the Mun. They even took the Munar Lander out for a little practice flight, but didn't actually land.

Leaving behind the module to crash into the Mun's surface, they headed home, the mission a complete success.

Their ability to go to the Mun had been realized.They would be back soon, this time to explore.